Detectives think that Neary waited in the parking lot of Video Empire, 5440 N. State Road 7, about an hour before shooting Anthony Robert Fratello, 22, of Margate, in the back of the neck about 1 a.m., Leljedal said.

Fratello was in critical condition late Friday at Northwest Regional Hospital in Margate, according to spokeswoman Laurie Bunton.

Neary, who is the adopted son of a Margate police officer, watched from his car in the parking lot while the unidentified dancer and Fratello got into a car and headed north on State Road 7, Leljedal said.

After following them briefly, Neary pulled his blue Suzuki Samurai behind Fratello`s car at the intersection of Prospect Road and State Road 7 and fired one shot from a 30-30 Winchester hunting rifle, Leljedal said. The owner of the gun was unknown, Leljedal said.

The bullet shattered the rear window of Fratello`s car and lodged in his spine, Leljedal said. The woman, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle when Fratello was shot, was able to stop the car. A gas station attendant working nearby heard the shot and called police, Leljedal said.

Both Neary and Fratello were regular customers at the video arcade, which features free beer, video games and topless dancing, according to manager Gene Kalish. Neary, who had been in the Navy, sent postcards to Kalish and some of the employees when his ship docked in Hawaii, he said.

Fratello was helping the dancer look through a newspaper for a car at the arcade Thursday night, Kalish said.

Neary told the dancer he wanted to go out with her, but the woman had made it clear earlier in the week that she was not interested in him, Kalish said.

``The bad part about this is that they are both really good people,`` Kalish said. ``They never caused any trouble in here.``

Fratello and the dancer were not dating, Kalish said.

A Tamarac police officer and paramedics chatting nearby responded to the shooting. After the officer broadcast a description of the vehicle, a Margate officer saw Neary driving north on State Road 7, Margate Lt. Richard Engert said. Neary refused to pull over until he reached his home in Margate and rushed the officer after he got out of his car, Engert said.

Neary was taken into custody after a brief struggle, Engert said. The rifle was found in the front seat of the car, he said.